Adjustable rear sight for handguns

ABSTRACT

A handgun adjustable rear sight with a base pivotally mounted within a slot opening to the rear of the gun frame. The pivoted axis of the base includes two pins with one pin spring biased against a side of the base and the other pin threaded in the gun frame so that turning the second pin will laterally position the gun sight for windage adjustment. The pins have conical surfaces. A vertically positioned screw in the base engages the bottom of the slot so that turning the screw will position the sight vertically for elevation adjustment.

7-31-73 QR 31748;?44 I uuueu males ratent McClenahan July 31, 1973 [54] g zgg ggg REAR SIGHT FOR FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 669,844 4/1938 Germany 33/258 [75] Inventor: Douglas S. McClenahan, Southport, 213,926 3/l94l Switzerland 33/257 Conn.

[73] Assignee: Charter Arms Corporation, Primary Examiner-Louis Prince Bridgeport, Conn, Assistant Examiner-Charles E. Phillips Att0rneySmythe & Moore [22] Flled: Dec. 30, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 102,829 7 ABSTRACT A handgun adjustable rear sight with a base pivotally [52] U.S. Cl. 33/257 mounted within a slot opgning to the rear f h gun Cla frame The pivoted axis of the base includes two pins [58] Field of Search 33/56 R, 56 A, 254, i h one in spring biased against a side of the base and 33/257 258 the other pin threaded in the gun frame so that turning H the second pin will laterally position the gun sight for [56] References Clted windage adjustment. The pins have conical surfaces. A UNITED STATES PATENTS vertically positioned screw in the base engages the bot- 3,495,339 2 1970 Elliason 33 257 tom the Slot so that turning the Screw will Position 2,438,601 3/1948 Davis 33 5 R the sight vertically for elevation adjustment. 2,356,182 3 1944 Schaich 33/56 A 1,027,891 5 1912 Peck 33/56 R 2 Clam, 8 Drawmg Flgures l t), I

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JNVENTOR. DOUGMSS. McCLENAHA/V 22 F G .8 BYWZZUQMWN ATTORNEYS ADJUSTABLE REAR SIGHT FOR I-IANDGUNS Firearms, including rifles and handguns, are usually provided with both front and rear sights. Generally both sights in a small handgun are fixed or stationary since it has been difficult to construct an adjustable rear sight which is reliable in operation, compact and simple in construction. These problems are further increased by the relatively small size of the area of the gun frame upon which a rear sight must be placed. While many forms of adjustable rear sightshave been devised for rifles, no satisfactory rear sight has been provided for a small handgun which is simple and is capable of adjustment both vertically and horizontally.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide an improved adjustable rear sight for handguns.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a two-way adjustable rear sight for handguns which is simple in construction, can be accurately positioned, and can be easily and quickly operated.

In one aspect of the present invention, an adjustable rear sight for handguns may comprise an elongated base member having a sight fixed on one end thereof and which is recessed in a slot extending horizontally in the upper surface of the gun frame. Spring biased means pivotally mount the base within the slot. Means are provided for axially positioning the pin means and the base carried thereby to adjust the sight horizontally for windage correction. Spring means are positioned between one end of the base and the bottom of the slot to urge the end of the base upwardly. An adjusting screw is vertically positioned in the other end of the base to contact the bottom of the slot so that turning of the adjusting screw will vertically position the base and the sight thereon for elevation adjustment.

The pivot means comprises two coaxial pins with one pin spring biased against one side of the base and the other pin threaded in the gun frame and engaging the other side of the base. As a result, rotation of the threaded piece will horizontally position the base.

Other objects, advantages and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description and drawings, which are merely exemplary.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a handgun incorporating the adjustable rear sight of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged side elevation view of that portion of the handgun of FIG. 1 on which the adjustable rear sight is mounted;

FIG. 3 is a rear elevation view of that portion of the gun frame shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of that portion of the gun frame of FIG. 2 showing the adjustable rear sight;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along the line 55 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the adjusting screw positioned in one end of the sight base as shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a side elevation view of the adjusting screw of FIG. 6; and

FIG. 8 is a plan view of one piece of the two-piece pin means which pivotally mounts the base carrying the rear sight.

Proceeding next to the drawings wherein like reference symbols indicate the same parts throughout the various views, a specific embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail.

In FIG. 1 there is indicated generally at 10 a handgun incorporating the rear sight of the present invention, the rear sight assembly being indicated generally at 11. Rear sight assembly 11 comprises an elongated rectangular base 12 recessed in a slot 13 (FIGS. 4, 5) having one end 14 opening at the rear portion of the gun frame 15. The other end of the slot 13 is curved upwardly at 16 or is otherwise suitably shaped.

The base 12 has an open sight 17 fixed to the end thereof positioned adjacent the open end 14 of slot 13. The upper surface of the base 12 indicated at 18 is substantially flush with the upper surface 19 of the gun frame.

The base 12 is pivotally mounted within slot 13 by means of a two-piece pin assembly comprising a first pin 21 (FIG. 8) and provided with an annular conical shoulder 22 and a shaft 23. The pin end of pin 21 is received in a bore 24 formed in the gun frame. One end of spring 25 engages against the closed end of bore 24, and the other end of spring 25 bears against a transverse wall 26 of the pin piece 21. With this construction, the pin 21 is able to move axially within the opening 24.

The conical portion 22 of pin piece 21 is nested against a corresponding conical portion 27 formed on side wall 28 of base 12.

A second pin 29 is positioned coaxially in relation to pin 21 and defines the pivotable axis of base member 12. The second pin 29 is threaded within an opening 30 formed in the gun frame and has a conical shoulder 31 similarly nesting against a corresponding conical seat on a side 32 of base 12. By using the opposed conical bearing surfaces, play is minimized which is of importance because of the small dimensions of the parts. A plastic pellet 34A, such as nylon, can be used to maintain the parts in adjusted position.

A bore 33 extends through the base 12 and portions of the pins 21 and 29 extend into bore 33 as may be seen in FIG. 4. It is apparent that insertion of a screwdriver or similar tool into a slot 34 formed in the head of pin 29 and a turning of the pin 29 will cause a horizontal movement of the base 12 which will accordingly horizontally position the sight 17 carried thereby.

To adjust te rear sight l7 vertically, there is provided an adjusting screw 35 which is threaded through base 12 in a position as shown in FIG. 5 and has its lower end 36 contacting the bottom of slot 13. A spring 37 is nested in a recess 38A formed in the underside of the base 12, the spring also bearing against the bottom of slot 13.

The head of adjusting screw 35 is provided with a plurality of axially extending grooves 38 which cooperate with a detent ball 39 biased against the grooves 38 by means of spring 40.

It is thus apparent that by turning screw 35, base 12 will be pivoted about the pivot axis defined by the pins 21 and 29 which will vertically position sight 17. Ad-

justing screw 35 will be retained in its adjusted position by means of spring biased detent ball 39.

As may be seen in FIG. 3, cross arrows 41 indicate that the rear sight 17 may be adjusted both horizontally and vertically by the adjusting mechanism as described above. The rear sight is so mounted on the movable base that the sight is in its usual position as found on conventional handguns having fixed rear sights. Thus, the adjustability of the rear sight according to the present invention will present no problems to a person using this type of sight for the first time since the adjustable sight is positioned exactly where the shooter would be accustomed to look for it.

It will be understood that various details of construction and arrangement of parts may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention except as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An adjustable rear sight for handguns comprising an elongated base having a sight on one end thereof and recessed in a slot extending longitudinally in the upper surface of the gun frame, said base having opposed horizontal conical apertures therein, spring biased pin means pivotally mounting said base in said slot, said pin means comprising first and second pins, said first pin being spring biased against said base and said second pin being threaded into said gun frame with said pins being coaxial to define a pivot axis, said first and second pins having conical shoulders for nesting in said corresponding conical apertures in said base, spring means on one side of said axis urging one end of said base upwardly, and an adjusting screw on the other side of said axis and positioned vertically in the other end of said base to contact the bottom of the slot whereby turning of said adjusting screw will vertically position the base about said pivot axis and turning of said second pin will laterally displace said base along said axis.

2. An adjustable rear sight as claimed in claim 1 and comprising spring biased detent means coacting with said adjusting screw to retain the screw in an adjusting position. 

1. An adjustable rear sight for handguns comprising an elongated base having a sight on one end thereof and recessed in a slot extending longitudinally in the upper surface of the gun frame, said base having opposed horizontal conical apertures therein, spring biased pin means pivotally mounting said base in said slot, said pin means comprising first and second pins, said first pin being spring biased against said base and said second pin being threaded into said gun frame with said pins being coaxial to define a pivot axis, said first and second pins having conical shoulders for nesting in said corresponding conical apertures in said base, spring means on one side of said axis urging one end of said base upwardly, and an adjusting screw on the other side of said axis and positioned vertically in the other end of said base to contact the bottom of the slot whereby turning of said adjusting screw will vertically position the base about said pivot axis and turning of said second pin will laterally displace said base along said axis.
 2. An adjustable rear sight as claimed in claim 1 and comprising spring biased detent means coacting with said adjusting screw to retain the screw in an adjusting position. 